Method of manufacturing concrete blocks and slabs.



METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CONCRETE BLOGKS AND SLABS. APPLICATION FILED J Y 20, 1906.

PATENI'ED AUG. 6, 1907.

UNrrnnas'r TnsI PATENT onnron.

' osoAn snAnronn; OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD on MANUFACTURING concnn'rn nLocxs Am) SLABS.

To all whom it'n'lay concern: v

5 Be it knownthat I, OSCAR Brmnronn, a citizen of the United States, residing'in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, 'have invented a new and I useful Improvement in the Method of Manufacturing Concrete Blocks and 'Slabs, of which the following is a specification. I

My object in this invention has been to devise a 'method .of constructing concrete blocks and. slabs adapted to be used in building construction instead of the lumber and other inferior materials commonly employed, by which the slabs and blocks may be so cheapened as to induce builders to'give them the preference over other materials. I propose making these slabs and blocks in large quantities and of standard 'sizes and dimensions so that architects can plan their buildings with special reference to the embodiment'of the blocksand slabs therein. The blocks and'slabs are 'all strengthened by embedding expanded metal or its equivalent therein in such manner that they will be fittedto withstand the strains to which they will be sub ject in use. If kept in stock, as they may be, these blocks and slabs will be obtainable without loss of time .and without waiting upon the manufacturer to prepare molds for them or to cast them.

To this end, my inventionconsists in the process of manufacture hereinafter set forthn v In the accompanyingdrawing which forms a part of this specification, I show a preferred construction of molding apparatus adapted to be used in the practice of my process, .and in it, Figure 1 is a plan view show- I ing the mold open and Fig. 2 is'a vertical section show- .ing the mold closed. Fig. 3. is a plan view of the upper mold.

I prefer to cast the slabs or blocks in two part molds, because that permits the filling of both parts simulta- .ment. These fastenings consist preferably of overhanging hooks 7 on the top edge of the frame of the upper mold and adapted to engage the cross barsB upon the cover, and thus .to permit the removal of the cover by a longitudinal movement'and to enable the cover 'to resist any pressure which may come upon it from the contents of the mold. By removing the cover, the top of the blocker slab being formed is exposed early in the process. The lower half of the mold agrees Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 20} 1906. Serial N0i 326,988-

' Tatented Aug. 6, 907.

with the upper half in. the matter of dimensions but it is provided with a movable. bottom or floor 9, having screws'lO or equivalent devices stayed in the cross frame members 11, whereby the bottom may be raised after the mold'is filled, and thus 'causea compression or solidifying of the contents. These screws may also be a used to force the block or slab outof the mold whenit has become'sufficiently set to allow its removal without injury. By this compression the mass of concrete in the molds is equalized to some extent if unequally dis-. tributed previously, its plastic condition permitting this result.

In the use of the apparatus, both halves of the -mold are filled with concrete, and a sheet of expanded metal l2 is placed upon the concrete in one of the molds,

preferably the upper one, and then the upper mold is inverted and its open side placed upon the open side or face'of the lower mold, and the two parts of the mold are then secured together by suitable locking devices such asthe link shown at 13 and the hinge 14. This putting of the molds together should be done as 'soon as the concrete in the ,upper mold becomessufliciently hardened to permit the inverting of said mold without spilling" the contents. Immediately after the molds have been ut together and secured, the movable bottom is forced upward and solidifies all parts of the concrete at the same. time and to the same extent, equalizing. its V density in all parts of the slab or block and forcing the concrete in the two half inol'ds into intimate contact so that it becomes: united,- and filling at the same time allv the interstices or hollows of the reinforce metal." This should be done before what is known as thetime for the initial set has expired. This compression being effected, I next'remove the top of 'theupper mold so that.

the block or slab being formed is exposed to the air on top, and then'allow theblock or slab to remain in the uncovered mold so long as may be necessary to render I it firrn so that it can be taken out without danger of in-' jury to its shape or dimensions. The final removal of the slab orblo ck may be effected by a further movement of the movable bottom which may be imparted to it by the screws shown. I

I prefer to employ a two part mold because that enables the filling of both at the same time, saving thereby some small portion of the initial setting time. The

forming of the slabs or blocks in two partmolds also greatlyfacilitates the'insertion of the reinforcing metal at the proper place'in the slab or block. The apparatus isadapted to produce very smooth and perfect blocks or slabs. I

While I have'shown the two parts of the mold equal in all respects, it will be understood that one part may 7 be of greater height than the other, and indeed this is an.

important' feature because by varyingthe relative heights of the parts I am enabled to insort the reinforce at any point desired. "It will also, be understood.- that" the pressure is not necessarily applied from the bottom of the mold. 1

I claim: r r 1. The improvement in .the 'art of manufacturing concrete slabs or blocks, consisting in placing the concrete .together with a reinforce sheet in the mold, the mold being 'adapted -to s lpport the reinforce sheet in its proper position' and equalizing the concrete throughout thermold by 3. 'The improvement in the art: of manufacturing reinforced concrete slabs and blocks, consisting in' putting the plastic material in open faced half molds, placing the openfaces of the molds together with the reinforce interposed and applying pressure to the concrete so that the reinforce will be perfectly, embedded and ;theg 'bodies of concrete thoroughly united.v

4. The improvement in the art of manufacturing rein .forced vslabs and blocks, consisting in putting wthe plastic material in open faced half-molds, placing the open faces of the molds together with the reinforce interposed and applying pressure to the plastic material so'that the rein- ,force will be perfectly embedded and the bodies of plastic material thoroughly united. I

g .OSQAR nimnron i. I

Witnesses V j PEARL'ABRAMS, v H. M; Mumm I 

